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june 2008 God and the olive agendaThe response to a world falling apart must be to integrate economic and ecological principles, argues Steve de Gruchy
I have been both moved and saddened by those who commit their life for a particular cause; moved by the inspiration and energy that many bring to a particular issue but saddened in some cases by a lack of holistic thinking. Those working on the eradication of poverty don’t always see eye to eye with those working on the protection of the environment, and visa versa. But it doesn’t have to be like this. The economic and ecological agendas can be readily brought together for the benefit of all.
Those who focus on poverty issues are right to put economic systems on the public agenda. But any expectations that the current neo-liberal economy, underpinned by growth, will make poverty history while creating a secure future for the earth are ethically questionable and theologically indefensible. A blinkered “brown agenda”, in which economic solutions are proposed without regard to ecological limits or the carrying capacity of the earth, is doomed to failure.
This article is continued in the June 08 edition of Reform.
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